Fence-stretcher.



T. T. ROGERS.

FENCE STBETCHER. Y PPLIUATIQN FILED In 15, 190s.

Patented Dec. 1, 1908.l

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMPSON T. ROGERS, OF PERRY,` MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO BAILEY A. LITTELL,

OF PERRY, MISSOURI.

FENCE-ETRE TCHE B.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 1, 1908.

To all whom it may concern:

r'Be it known that I, THOMPSON T. ROGERS, a citizen of the United States, Vresiding at Perry, in the county of Ralls and State of Missouri, have invented a new'and useful Fence-Stretcher, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to wire fence stretchers; and has for its primary object to provide a cheap, efficient and simple device for stretching fences made of a number of horizontal wire strands connected by vertical strips or stretchers of metal or Wood, before fastening them to posts previously planted in the Ground. The device may also be employed for stretching single strands of wire without change or alteration in any of its parts. p

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple device of the character described operated by a lever which, moving bodily in one direction to stretch-a fence attached to the implement, may be caused to travel in the opposite direction and continue the stretching operation.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved wire stretcher in use, Fig. 2 an edge view of the same in a more advanced position, and Fig. 3 a top plan view of the wire stretcher arranged for the second stretching operation.

Like reference characters are used for the same parts in all the figures.

In the drawing 1 and 2 indicate two parallel plates or flat bars spaced apart and connected at one end by an upper. and lower segmental cross piece 3 riveted or bolted thereto, and at the opposite end by a straight cross piece 4 also riveted or bolted to the plates or bars 1 and 2. The outer projecting ends of the segmental cross pieces 3 have registering perforations for freely fitting pins 5, each -pin connected by a wire or a loose chain 5a with the upper cross piece 3. The two bars 1 and 2 are connected by chains 6 to a plate 7 fastened securely when in use by a chain 8 or other means to a fixed support 9.

In the central line of the plate 7, between the chains 6, and near its forward edge are two links 10, one above and one below said plate. The links project beyond the edge of the plate 7, each forward end having a perforation to receive loosely a pin 11 secured against loss by a wire or chain 12 attached thereto and to some fixed point on the plate.

The parallel plates or bars 1 and 2 have a longitudinal series of equally spaced holes 13 extending from the cross pieces 3 to the cross piece 4. The holes in the plates or bars l and 2 are disposed with such relation to each other that the holes in one plate or bar lie midway between the holes in the other plate or bar; or, in other words the holes in the plates are in staggered order.

Between the plates 1 and 2 a draw bar 14 is adapted to slide. Its outer end, having an aperture therein, is attached by a pin 15 extending through said aperture and through perforations in two links 16 pivoted to a plate 17 similar to the links 10 and plate 7 heretofore described. The other end of the draw bar 14 is fulcrumed on an operatingv lever or handle 18 by means of a pin 19. The lever or handle 18 comprises two parallel bars 20 and 21 spaced apart to permit the plates l and 2 to move between them, and then connected together on one side of the same. The Opposite ends of the lever bars 20 and 21 receive between them the inner end of a hand piece 22 connected in such a manner that it can be removed when the stretcher is not in use, to make the mechanism more compact.

Two pins 23 `and 24 are connected by wires or chains to the levers or handle 18 and are adapted to lit easily in the perforations 13 in the plates or bars 1 and form temporary fulcrums for said lever in the operation of the wire stretcher.

The plate 17 which is preferably triangular in contour is perforated through the angle in rear of the links 16 for a chain 25 to connect said plate to a fence clamp 26 of any well known type. On opposite sides of the links 16, perforations 27 are made in corners of the plate 17, said perforations being each in line with one of the pins 5 in the ends of the segmental cross pieces 3.

In the operation of the fence stretcher, let it be assumed that the triangular plate 17 is attached to the fence clamp and the latter to the fence to be stretched. Let it also be assumed that the hand lever 18 is as near the curved cross-pieces 3 as possible, the pins v23 ,and 24 in the end holes 13 and the draw bar 14 at its extreme outer limit of movement and attached to the triangular plate 17. The chain 8 or other fastening is then drawn tightly and secured to some rigid object so that the plates or bars 1 and 2 lie in a substantially horizontal position. If now, the hand lever be moved with the parts in the assumed position in the direction indicated* by the arrow A, it will turn on its fulcrum pin 19 until its side strikes the pin 24 in the first hole 1.3 in the plate or bar 2, when the fulcrum will be changed to said pin 24 and the draw bar, through its connection with the hand lever, will be pulled in a longitudinal direction between the plates or bars 1 and 2. As soon as the opposite end of the hand lever passes over the next successive hole 13 in the plate or bar 1, the pin 23 will be placed therein and the movement of the hand lever stopped, the tension of the fence holding the hand lever against both pins 23 and 24. The next movement of the hand lever will be in the direction of the arrow B, Fig. l, the fulcrum being shifted to the pin 23 and the movement continued until the lever has passed the next hole 13 in the plate 2 when the pin 24 will be dropped therein. The oscillating movements of the hand lever and the resetting of the pins continue until the hand lever and its attached draw bar have traveled about the length of the plates or bars 1 and 2. At this time the triangular plate 17 is near the projecting ends of the cross pieces 3, the pins 5 having been removed from the holes therein. One or two movements of the hand lever will draw the triangular plate between the ends of the curved pieces far enough to bring the holes 27 in said plate in register with the holes in the curved pieces. The pins 5 are then inserted through these holes and, upon releasing the hand lever, the tension of the fence is sustained by the pins 5, and the draw bar entirely relieved therefrom. Should the tension of the fence be insufficient, the pin 15 connecting the draw bar to the links 16 is removed, as is also the pin 19 forming the connection between the hand lever and said draw bar. The draw bar is then withdrawn, its position reversed and connected again with the hand lever at one end and to the links 10 on the plate 7. The hand lever being now at the end of the bars 1 and 2 farthest from the fence the pins 23 and 24 are placed in the holes 13 on the opposite side of the hand lever from where they were during the first operation, see Fig. 3. The movement of the hand lever is now repeated and the pins removed and inserted in the same order as at first but in an opposite direction. The draw-bar by this change becomes a fixed element, but the plates or bars 1 and 2,

through their connection with the fence, be-

hand lever ,is oscillated the bars 1 and 2l are moved forward and the fence is drawn tighter. in practically all cases, be sufficient to give vthe fence the proper tension.

It must be understood that the triangular plates 7 and 17 in the specification and claims are not necessarily plates, but may be 5fH other form, provided they are adapted to perform the functions of said plates.

Having described the invention, what "'I claim is- 1. A fence stretching means comprising a pair of slidable members, one of which is provided with a plurality of openings arranged successively in two rows, a lever pivoted to the other member, pins adjustable into the successive openings to form alternately shiftable fulcrums for the lever, means for attaching one of said members to a fixed object and the other member to a fence to be stretched, and means by which the members may be reversely attached at the conclusion of their movements and the stretching operation continued without relaxing the tension on the fence.

2. A fence stretching device including a pair of members, one arranged for connection to the fence being stretched, and the other to a fixed object, a lever pivoted to one of said 'members and a pair of adjustable pins carried by the other member and movable to different points in the length thereof, said pins forming shifting fulcrums for movement ofthe lever', and means carried by one member and engageable with the other member for connecting said members, to maintain the fence taut after the stretching operation.

3. A fence stretching means comprising two cooperating members slidable longitudinally with respect to each other, one of said members having two parallel series of holes therein, a lever pivoted on one end of the other member and adapted to bear alternately against pins insertible in the holes in the first named member to draw said members together, plates adapted to be fastened one to the fixed object and another to the fence, means for connecting each member to one of said plates, and means whereby the members may be reversed as regards their relative positions without relieving the fence of tension.

4. A fence stretching device comprising a pair of members slidable longitudinally with respect to each other, one of said members having two longitudinal series of openings therein, the openings being in staggered order, an operating lever pivoted to the other member and adapted to bear alternately against pins insertible in said openings, a pair of plates, one arranged to be fastened to a xed obj ect and the other to a fence to These combined movements will,

be stretched, and detachable connections between said slidable members and the plates K. to thereby permit reversal of the connections of said members for operation of the lever in reverse direction.

5. A fence stretching device comprising a pair of plates arranged one to be secured to a Xed object and the other to a fence to be stretched, a pair of links carried by the plates, an operating lever, a bar connected to one set of links and to which the lever is pivoted, a pair of slidable bars between which the lever carrying bar lits, said slidable bars being provided with openings disposed in staggered relation, pins insertible in said openings to form a shiftable fulcrum for the lever, and means for connecting said bars to the plate carrying the attaching links of the lever carrying bar.

6. A fence stretching device comprising a pair of plates arranged to be attached one to a fixed object and the Vother to the fence to be stretched, a pair of links carried by the plates, a central bar detachably connected to one of the links and arranged for connection to the opposite link for reverse operation, an operating lever pivoted on said bar, a pair of connected bars arranged on opposite sides of the central bar and provided with rows of openings disposed in staggered relation, lever fulcrum pins insertible in said opening, means for connecting said bars to the plate which carries the attaching links of the center bar, and means for connecting the bars to the opposite plate.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aliixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

THOMPSON T. ROGERS.

Witnesses:

JNO. LA FRANCE, O. O. POWERS. 

